[Job-Discussions] Appropriate use of human guide in the worlplace

dickblind at gmail.com dickblind at gmail.com
Thu Jun 8 21:25:06 UTC 2023 

The  Nature of Independence is a speech that you can find on www.NFB.org.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 8, 2023, at 2:03 PM, Julie McGinnity via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Kelsey,
> 
> I think it was Dr. Jernigan who discussed this in the Nature of
> Independence. He wrote about how he goes on walks with his secretary
> and uses sighted guide with her so they could continue a conversation.
> It wasn't that he couldn't walk on his own; it was that he wanted to
> focus on talking without the distractions of navigation. You should
> read through the speech; it's a good one.
> 
> I had a boss who encouraged this as well. She and I went on walks
> every day. I had a guide dog then, so I did not use sighted guide. But
> she was understanding when I had to stop to relieve the dog or when we
> stopped at curbs as per our training. This is kind of similar. You
> will likely have a colleague (or several) who are more than happy to
> walk with you and will understand your reasons.
> 
> Julie
> 
> 
>> On 6/7/23, Dick Davis via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi Kelsey,
>> 
>> I think we have moved past the point of judging people for having the
>> occasional limitation. Dr. Jernigan even wrote a speech called “The Nature
>> of Independence,” in which he addressed the very thoughts you are having. I
>> suggest you read it.
>> 
>> To expand on my earlier point of members on this list needing to be
>> supportive of others, I remember some of the people on our old jobs list
>> were critical of some of the questions you asked when you were first seeking
>> employment. Then one of our committee members, Jeannette, who has since
>> passed away, realized how smart you are, took you under her wing and helped
>> you get a job.
>> 
>> Since that time, you have continued to advance in employment. Your jobs keep
>> getting better and better. Your employers have respected your knowledge and
>> skills and given you additional responsibilities. Your successes prove that
>> a person does not need perfect skills to succeed as long as they have a good
>> mind and a good heart.
>> 
>> Best wishes,
>> Dick Davis
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Jun 7, 2023, at 1:51 PM, Jordan Gallacher via Job-Discussions
>>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Do as you wish. There is no shame in using a human guide. None at all,
>>> despite what some of these organizations might say or think.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Jun 7, 2023, at 11:29 AM, Chad Allen via Job-Discussions
>>>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>> Not only do I fully agree with using sighted guide but I have a story to
>>>> tell:
>>>> I am a performing magician. I appeared on Penn and Teller's Fool Us and I
>>>> am currently booked at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA. I say all this
>>>> only to show I am serious about this work.
>>>> Last year, Mark Riccobono hired me to perform strolling magic at an event
>>>> in New Orleans. I almost did not accept the job. Stage and closeup magic
>>>> allows me to have complete control of my performing space however,
>>>> strolling magic requires me to go table to table in a restaurant or
>>>> cocktail party environment. I am a successful cane traveler and a
>>>> successful magician but I cannot travel with my cane and perform card
>>>> magic at the same time. I need both hands to perform magic.
>>>> I told this to Mark and I was willing to help him find a magician but he
>>>> said, no. We want you.
>>>> Without skipping a beat, Mark said, why not go sighted guide? I thought
>>>> about it for two seconds and immediately knew he was right.
>>>> So, at the event, I walked through the party, without my cane and
>>>> performed magic for everyone. It was a great success and something I now
>>>> request for every strolling magic gig I get.
>>>> Moral of the story? Do what's best to get the job done. I hope this
>>>> helps.
>>>> My best,
>>>> Chad Allen
>>>> 
>>>> As seen on Penn and Teller: Fool Us
>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCcA5gR0DSI
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jun 7, 2023, at 07:38, Frye, Daniel via Job-Discussions
>>>>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Kelsey:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I rarely answer posts on any of our jobs or employment lists, leaving
>>>>> this venue for the benefit of Federation members, allies, and the like.
>>>>> But your question has prompted me to answer you with my opinion. Of
>>>>> course, I am a member of the Federation, but I am also a member of our
>>>>> organizational staff, so I undertake to not consume space, in deference
>>>>> to our volunteer membership.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I think there would absolutely be nothing wrong with your taking an arm
>>>>> of a team member (assuming that they are agreeable) so that you don't
>>>>> get occasionally disoriented in a parking lot. I think you have a
>>>>> thoughtful manager who understands the value of physical exertion as a
>>>>> means of maintaining your productivity at work and your general health.
>>>>> If walking with somebody gets you the exercise you require; helps
>>>>> ultimately to acquaint you with the route, should you have to travel it
>>>>> alone; and facilitates informal conversation with your colleagues that
>>>>> could not occur, if you were walking alone; I think that these
>>>>> advantages may present you with some social opportunities to integrate
>>>>> yourself while at work.
>>>>> 
>>>>> We are all, of course, encouraged to be as independent as possible to
>>>>> preserve a positive public perception of blindness and simply to be
>>>>> self-sufficient, but I think we must accept people where they are in
>>>>> terms of orientation & Mobility. I have directional hearing issues from
>>>>> time-to-time, and I used to worry that my reliance on somebody to walk
>>>>> to a given destination with me might adversely impact the impression
>>>>> that I leave with the individual and others that see me, but I've
>>>>> learned to be sufficiently self-confident that I minimize this worry, if
>>>>> it is in fact secondary to the other advantages inherent in a particular
>>>>> project. IN summary, I think you should do what feels most productive
>>>>> and useful to you, when considering the entire exercise, and not worry
>>>>> overly much about public impressions that don't consider the nuances
>>>>> inherent in your decision. Again, please don't use this as a rationale
>>>>> for not learning the route, but if it helps you to engage with your
>>>>> colleagues, stay safe and oriented, and learn what you need to know, I'd
>>>>> make these my priority considerations. I urge you to dismiss those who
>>>>> would be unduly judgmental of your decision to walk alongside another
>>>>> colleague; I'm sure that your sighted colleagues do the same thing, for
>>>>> the same reasons, all the time, without having to subject themselves to
>>>>> a test of whether they are independent enough every day.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I hope this feedback provides you with some solace and support as you
>>>>> continue whatever practice feels most comfortable for you. Behaving with
>>>>> integrity, ultimately, is what it is all about.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> With Kind Regards,
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Daniel B. Frye, JD.
>>>>> Director of Employment and Professional Development Programs
>>>>> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>>>>> 410-659-9314, extension 2393 | dfrye at nfb.org
>>>>> Mobile: 410-241-7006
>>>>> Pronouns: he, him, his
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
>>>>> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every
>>>>> day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Job-Discussions <job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
>>>>> Kelsey Nicolay via Job-Discussions
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 7:25 AM
>>>>> To: job-discussions at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Cc: Kelsey Nicolay <piano.girl0299 at gmail.com>
>>>>> Subject: [Job-Discussions] Appropriate use of human guide in the
>>>>> worlplace
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>> I work in an office environment in which our manager highly encourages
>>>>> going for a walk outside at least once a day. Due to how the office
>>>>> complex is set up, there are not sidewalks the whole way around the
>>>>> building, so it is necessary to walk in a parking lot. The sound of
>>>>> teammanes’ voices are usually enough to maintain orientation, but the
>>>>> sound of traffic sometimes affects my ability to hear where they are, so
>>>>> I have veered off course. I don’t go sighted guide in the building. Have
>>>>> learned my way around, but would there be anything wrong with me taking
>>>>> an arm to help stay oriented when we go for our team walks outside?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from Kelsey Nicolay’s iPhone
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> Job-Discussions:
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>>>> 
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>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Julie A. McGinnity
> MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of
> Law, JD Candidate 2023
> 
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